Shaft-supporting device.



PATBNTED JAN. 6, 1903.

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Mem: .Madzzm y No. 717,860; i

\ I M. O. JOHNSON.

SHAFT SUPPORTING DEVICE.

APPLIOATIGN FILED NOV.11, 1901.

No MODEL.

PATBNTED YJAN. 6, 190s.

Y M. c. JOHNSON. SHAFT SUPPORTING DEVICE.

APPLICATION HLED Nov. 1;, 1901.

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NO MODEL.

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NTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MOSES C; JOHNSON, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE i HELIX GEAR COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORA- TION OF CONNECTICUT.

SHAFT-SUPPORTING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 717,860, dated January 6, 1903. Application led November l1, 1901. Serial No. 81,851. (No model.) i

To @ZZ whom t may concern. I j

Be it known that I, MosnsC. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Hartford, in the county of .Hartford andState of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shaft-Supporting Devices, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to shaft-supporting devices and in connection therewith to means` whereby a shaft may be journaled in such a way that it will always be kept in true alinement, no matter what may be the position of its supports, and also to a drip-cup mounted upon the hanger in a peculiar way. A

Primarily the object of the invention is the provision of shaft supports or hangers carry-` to the hangers in a peculiar way; anda fur-` ther object of the invention is the provision of improved means for adjusting and clampingthe box cups or shoes fitting upon the spherical bearings, all as will hereinafterbe described. 4

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of my invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the drip pan or cup employed beneath the bearings.` Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of one of the bearings. Fig. 4 is an end elevation showing one of the drip-cups in section. Fig. 5 is a detail View,

with the supporting-rodin section, of a yoke carried by the fork for shifting the clutch or other device for applying power to the counter-shaft; and Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical section of one of the improved journalbox seats.

Like numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 5 designates supports of any kind to which my `invention is shown applied, and the numerals 6 6 hangers secured to said supports by bolts 7 7', as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4. These hangers are of peculiar construction, and each is preferably formed as a single casting having an inwardly-curved and preferably laterally-iianged portion 8, terminating in a perforated seat 9, and formed as a part of said casting is a laterally-extending bearing 10 for the reception of a shipper device of different construction from that herein' illustrated, if desired. Fitted in a bore l2 in the lower part of each hanger 6 6 is a journal-box seat 13, a detail View of which is shown in Fig. 6, said seat being iianged at 13' and having a concave top 132 and a groove 133 adjacent to its lower end, for a purpose hereinafter explained. This box-seat is also provided with laterally-grooved wings 14, which or bearing and will convey it to a drip pan or cup to be hereinafter described.

Designated by the numeral l5 is my improved drip pan or cup, (shown more particularly in Figs. l and 2,) and this cup is provided with an opening 15 in its lower end, with which communicates a passage 16, and in this passage is fitted a plunger 17, having a thumb-piece 17 and a headV 18, beveled on its inner side at 18'. Surrounding the plunger 17, between the head and the wall of the passage in which said plunger is located, isa spiral or other form of spring 19, which normally tends to force the plunger and its head forward in the passage in which it is located. In the operation of this part of myinvention when the drip pan or cup becomes iilled with oil it may readily be detached by pulling upon the thumb-piece 17', and thereby retracting the head 18, which fits within the groove 133 of the box-seat 13, and when it is desired to replace the drip-cup all that it is necessary to do is to push said cup upon the stem of the box-seat, by which action the beveled face of the head of the plunger will force said plunwill receive oil dripping from the journal boX l ger backward until the drip-cup comes to proper position, when under the influence of its spring the plunger will immediately snap into the groove 133 and retain the cup in place. To fit around and embrace'the hanger on its sides, the drip-cup is provided with a passage 152, as illustrated in Figs. 2 and 4.

Designated by the numeral 20 is an improved journal box or bearing having a spherical or rounded outer surface 20 projecting from its periphery the lower part of which rests upon the concave top of the box-seat 13, and this journal-box is provided adjacent to each end with oven-hanging grooved flanges 202 for the reception of oil or other lubricant which will be discharged from the shaft by centrifugal force. Upon the shaft 26, adjacent to each end of the box 20, are collars 90 90', secured to said shaft by screws 203, and these collars prevent longitudinal movement of said shaft.

Pivoted to each hanger at 21 is a lever 21, having an angular or deflected portion 212, in which is threaded a screw 22, the inner end of which bears against the edge of the hanger, and fitted upon this screw and bearing against the outer side of the deiiected portion 212 is a jam-nut 23 for securing the screw against movement after it has been adjusted.

Articulated to the lever 21 at 24 is a boxclampiug cup or shoe 24, having arms 242 extending on each side of the lever and through which the pivot 24' passes, said shoe being formed with a concave under surface 244, conforming to the shape of the spherical bearing 20. Fitted within a seat of the lever 2l at a point below its pivot is a spring-actuated plunger 25, having a head 25", which serves normally to throw up the lever 21 and its attached cup 24 when the screw 22 is withdrawn.

Journaled in the boxes 20 is a countershaft 26, upon which are loosely mounted pulleys 27 and 28, to which the usual belts for driving the shaft in opposite directions may be applied.

The box-seat 13 is chambered at 134 to receive a stop-pin 80, having a reduced end 80', which fits in a recess in the spherical portion 20 of the box 2O and prevents the rotation of said box. This construction is clearly illustrated in Figs. 3 and 6, and in assembling these parts the pin is simply driven into its seat, as shown in Fig. 6. Through carelessness it may happen that the lever 21 may not be forced downward tightly enough to cause the shoe 244 to clamp the box tightly against the box-seat 13, and should this happen the box might rotate and grind on its bearings; but by providing the stop-pin all liability of this occurrence is obviated.

Mounted for longitudinal movement in a bearing 29 of the hanger 6 is a rod 30, said rod being secured in position after adjustment by the screw 31, as illustrated in Fig. 4. This rod is provided with a collar 30 on its inner end, and fitted over the portion of the rod adjacent to said collar is a slotted yoke 32, having bearings 32', in which are secured by screws 33 bolts 34, upon which the arms 35' of a shipper-fork 35 are swiveled. Adjacent to their lower ends said arms 35 are provided with shoes 36, fitted in agroove 37 ofa clutch or other power-transmitting device 38, and to the lower end of this shipper-fork is secured by bolts 39 the usual grasping lever or handle 40. At its inner end the rod 30 is threaded, and upon it are placed a washer 41 and a nut 42. A

It frequently happens that it is necessary to so adjust the shipper-fork that its actuating-lever may stand either perpendicularly or at any desired angle to the device which it operates, and to accomplish said result in the present case it is merely necessary to loosen the nut 42 upon the end of rod 30 and to swing the yoke 32 and its attached shipper-fork around (the arc-shaped slot of the yoke traveling over the inner end of the rod) until the operating-handle 40 is brought to the desired place, when the nut is tightened to clamp the yoke in its adjusted position. When this has been accomplished, the clutch or other powertransmitting device splined to the shaft may be readily shifted in the usual manner by manipulating the lever 40, the ends of the arms 35 of the shipper-fork swiveling upon the bolts 34 when the level' is operated, as above stated. To afford strength, the hangers 6 6 may be provided with stiffening-ribs 43, and said hangers are each formed on their inner surfaces with bearings 44, which fit against the spherical portions 20 of the journal-box 20.

In the operation of my improved shaft-supporting devices and their accessories when it is desired to remove one of the drip pans or cups 15 all that it is necessary to do is to retract the pin 17 from the groove 133 of the box-seat 13 and to withdraw said cup from position, after which it may be replaced by simply inserting the stem of the box-seat within the perforation of the cup and pushing said cup upward, the head of the springactuated plunger 17 immediately snapping into the groove 133 and the groove or slot 15 of the drip-pan fitting around the edge of the hanger, as above stated.

In assembling the parts of my improved shaft-supporting mechanism it may happen that the hangers will not be set absolutely perpendicular, and if such should prove to be the case the spherical bearings on the journal-box Will rock in their seats to bring the shaft 26 into proper alinement, after which the screw 22 will be tightened to bear against the edge of the hangers and cause the box cup or shoe 24 to clamp the bearing rigidly in place. So, too, if it is desired to adjust the shipper-fork to any position along the line of the shaft where the clutch or other power-transmitting device may be.placed the screw 31 may be loosened and the rod 30 longitudinally adjusted in its bearing to accomplish this result.

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ruimen' its connections described,such s u bjectmai ter being set forth in my application filed April 29, 1902, Serial No. 105,142.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with hangers, of bearing-boxes having spherical, grooved projections; a shaft mounted in said boxes; boxseats fitted in openings of the hangers and each having a portion resting against the spherical projection of the box; devices having faces conforming to the projections and adapted to clamp the boxes against their seats; and pins carried by the hangers and the ends of which enter the grooves in said bearing-boxes.

2. The combination, with a hanger, of a bearing-boxhavingaspherical portion; means for preventing said box from rotating; a shaft journaled in said box; a box-seat having a concave top and a stem inserted in an opening of the hanger; a pivoted clamp carried by the hanger and bearing against the spherical projection of the box; and means for actuatins: the clamp.

3. The combination, with hangers, of bearing-boxes having spherical peripheral projections; a shaft journaled in said boxes; boxseats each having a concave top to fit and conform to said spherical projections, and each having a stem inserted in an opening of its hanger; pivoted levers carried by the hangers; shoes having concave faces carried by the levers; and means for adjusting the 1evers to force said shoes against the spherical projections.

4. The combination, with hangers, of bearing-boxes; a shaft journaled in said boxes; box-seats; levers pivoted to the hangers; shoes carried by said levers for clamping the bearing-boxes in place; and means for adjusting said levers.

5. The combination, with hangers, of bearing-boxes; seats for said bearing-boxes; levers pivoted to the hangers; shoes pivoted to the levers and bearing against the boxes; and screws for adjusting the levers and thereby forcing said shoes to clamp the boxes in place on the hangers.

6. The combination, with a shaft-hanger, of a box-seat carried by said hanger; a bearing-box tted to said seat; a pivoted lever; a shoe carried bysaid lever and fitting against the bearing-box; and a screw also carried by the lever and adapted to engage with a portion of the hanger.

'7. The combination, with a shaft-bearing; of a support for said bearing; a pivoted lever carried by the support; a shoe mounted on the lever and fitting the shaft-bearing; ascrew for adjusting said lever and causing the shoe to clamp the bearing in position; and means for automatically raising the lever when the screw is released.

8. The combination, with a support, of a shaft-bearing; a movably-mounted device carried by the support; a shoe carried by said device; means for adjusting said movablymounted device to force the shoe against the shaft-bearing; and means for raising the movably-mountedA device when the adjusting means is released.

9. The combination, with a hanger having a perforation in its lower end, of a box-seat having a stem inserted in said perforation and having a concave top; a bearing having a spherical peripheral projection, said projection fitting in the concave portion ofthe boxseat; a lever pivoted to the hanger; a screw threaded into said lever and adapted to bear at one end against the hanger; and a shoe having a concave face pivoted to the lever.

10. The combination, with a hanger having a perforation in its lower end; of a box-seat the stem of which is tted in said perforation, said box-seat having a concave top; a bearing having a spherical peripheral portion; a shaft journaled in said bearing; a lever pivoted to the hanger; a screw mounted in one end of the lever and adapted to bear against said hanger; a shoe pivoted to the lever and fitting the spherical portion of the bearing; and a spring-actuated plunger for throwing up the lever and its attached shoe when the screw is withdrawn from contact with the hanger. i

11. The combination, with a hanger, of a bearing-box; a shaft journaled in said box; a seat carried by the hanger and supporting the lower part of said bearing-box, said seat having a groove at one end; a drip-cup; and a spring-actuated plunger for securing said drip-cup to the seat.

12. The combination, with a hanger, of a bearing-box secured to said hanger; a boxseat having a stem mounted in the hanger, said stem having a groove; a drip-pan; and means carried by the pan and entering the groove in the stein.

13. The combination, with a hanger, of a bearing-box; a stem carried by the hanger, said stem having a groove at one end; a drippan; and a device carried by said pan and adapted to enter the groove of the stem and secure the pan in position.

14. The combination, with a hanger, of a shaft; a bearing box supported on said IIO hanger; a box-seat having a stem provided with a groove; a drip pan or cup having a perforation; and a spring-actuated plunger carried in the perforation of said drip pan or cup and adapted to engage with the groove in the stem of the box-seat.

15. The combination, with a hanger, of a drip-pan slotted to fit over said hanger, said pan having a perforation; a spring-actuated plunger carried in the perforation of said pan; a journal-box; and a stem having a groove supported in the hanger and with which groove the head of the plunger engages.

16. Thecombination,withashaft,ofabearing-box for said shaft, said box having a recess; a seat; a pin carried by the seat and having a portion entering the recess ofthe bearing; and means including a lever for clamping the bearing against said seat.

17. The combinatiomwith hangers, of bearing-boxes mounted in said hangers, said boxes having spherical projections, and each projection having a recess; box-seats having concave tops for the reception of the spherical projections; pins carried by said boX-seats and entering the recesses in the bearings to prevent the same from rotation; and means for clamping the bearings against the boxseats.

18. The combination, with a shaft-hanger having a perforation in its lower end; of a chambered box-seat inserted in-said perforation; a pin carried by the box-seat; a bearing resting upon the box-seat and having a recess to receive an end of the pin; a clamping-lever pivoted to the hanger; a shoe carried by said clamping-lever and fitted against the bearing; and means for adjusting said clamping-lever.

In testimony whereof I afx my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MOSES O. JOHNSON.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM H. BLODGETT, J r., FRANCES E. BLODGETT.- 

